Crust-crushing instrument.



No 632,444. Patented Sept. 5, I899. H. P. L. F. CHAUSSINAND.

' CRUST CRUSHING ENSTBUMENT.

Appfivation filed June 28, 1899.-

(No Model.)

5 lflyenzbra Nr'rnn STATES A'llEN'l OFFICE.

CRUST-CRUSHING INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 632,444, dated September 5, 1899.

Application filed June 28, 1899. gerial No. 722,114. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HIPPOLYTE PAUL LOUIS FRANQOIS CHAUSSINAND, doctor of medicine, a citizen of the Republic of France, and a resident of St. Dizier, (Haute-Marne,) in the said Republic, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Crust-Crushing Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that kind of instruments for crushing and softening hard food, such as crusts of bread, which consist of two jaws, which are each provided with a certain number of blades so arranged that the blades of the one jaw can enter between the blades of the other jaw, but without touching the same, so that a crust of bread inserted between the jaws is not cut through thereby, but is simply bent, compressed, and drawn out between the blades. My invention has reference to the general construction of such instruments and to the modeof forming and mounting their jaws.

In myimproved crust-crushing instru ments the blades of each jaw are formed on a plate which is connected by a pivotal joint near the middle of its length to the corresponding lever-arm of theinstrument, so that the blades are caused to operate uniformly along their entirelength. The said jaws,with their blades, are also acted upon by springs, which while aiding in producing the said uniform action also insure the parallel position of the jaws when they are opened out, so as to facilitate the introduction between them of the crust to be crushed. I will describe the said improved instrument with reference to the accom panying drawings, in which Figures 1 and 2 show elevations of two-constructions for carrying out the said invention, which only differ from each other in the arrangement of the hand-levers of the instrument relatively to the pivoted jaws. Fig. 3 shows a cross-section of the instrument shown at Fig. 1, showing the action of the jaws when closed upon a crust placed between them.

A A are the two jaws, which are pivotally connected at O O at about the middle of their length to the lever-arms of the instrument.

B B are the springs interposed between the lever-arms and the jaws for insuring the parallel position of the jaws when removed from each other. For this purpose the springs are arranged at the parts of the lever-arms which are farthest from the hinge-joint D of the le- VGT'HJIDS.

Fig. 3 shows the form which I preferably give to the blades. It will be seen that the jaw A, which may be considered the female jaw, has one blade less than the male jaw A, and also that the blades to of the female jaw are of slightly-less height than the blades a of the male jaw. This mode of construction facilitates the action of the instrumentif care be taken on introducing a crust to place the softer side of the crust next the female jaw.

Having now described the nature of this invention and the best means I know of carrying the same into practical elfect, I claim 1. An instrument for crushing crusts, and the like, consisting of two jaws each having a series of blades, the blades of the one jaw being adapted to fit between the blades of the other jaw without touching them, and each jaw being pivotally connected at about the middle of its length to the lever-arms of the instrument, substantially as described.

2. An instrument for crushing crusts, consisting of two jaws, pivotally connected hand levers to which said jaws are pivoted at about the middle of their length, blades projecting from each jaw so that the blades of the one jaw are adapted to enter the spaces between the blades of the other jaw without touching them and springs interposed between the jaws and the lever-arms at the point of the latter which is farthest away from the pivot of the lever-arms, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 14th day of June, 1899.

[L. s] lllPlOLYTE PAUL LOUIS FRANQOIS CHAUSSINAND.

lVitnesses:

J. ALLIsoN Bownn, PAUL F. PAQUET. 

